Question 1

Why does the sentence use the infinitive vérifier instead of an equivalent for the "-ing" in "checking"?

Accepted Answer

In French, when a verb immediately follows a preposition like sans (without), pour (for/to), or de (of), it must be in its unbroken dictionary form (the infinitive). English uses the "-ing" form ("without checking"), but French essentially says "without to check" (sans vérifier).

Question 2

Where is the word for "did" in the French sentence?

Accepted Answer

French doesn't use helper words like "do" or "did" to make negative sentences. To say "He did not sign", you simply use the negative form of the passé composé tense: Il n'a pas signé (which translates more literally as "He has not signed").

Question 3

Why does pas come before signé?

Accepted Answer

In the passé composé tense, the negative words (ne and pas) act like a sandwich around the short helper verb, not the main action verb. Here, they wrap around a (has) to make n'a pas. The main action signé (signed) always comes after the pas.

Question 4

If I wanted to say "without checking it", how would I change the phrase?

Accepted Answer

You would put the direct object pronoun le (it) right before the infinitive verb. Because you are referring back to le contrat (a masculine noun), you use le, making the phrase sans le vérifier.

Il n'a pas signé le contrat sans vérifier.

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